Benefits & Pension Specialist - Temporary Assignment (February 2026 - October 2026)

Status: Temporary Assignment (February 2026 - October 2026)

Hours: Monday - Friday, 35 hours/week

Home Campus: Fennell (hybrid work arrangements available)

Rate of Pay: Payband 9 ($77,550 - $96,939 per year)

Vacancy Status: 1 vacancy available

Posting Date: December 19th, 2025

Closing Date: January 9th, 2026 at 7:00 pm EST

We believe the rich diversity among our students and the communities we serve should be reflected within our workforce. As educators, we believe it is important to act and show leadership in advancing the principles of reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our community.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Manager, Total Rewards, the incumbent is responsible for entering and maintaining all employee records within the College's HRIS and is the administrator and subject matter expert for pension and group benefits plans. The incumbent provides specialized expertise and support for the administration of pension and benefit programs and related policies for all College employees. This includes accountability for enrolments, retirements, leaves of absences, terminations and reporting. The administration and coordination of these programs is in accordance with the applicable plans, collective agreements, terms and conditions of employment, College policy and legislation.

What you'll be doing:

HRIS Fulfilment/ Monitoring/ Reporting

• Inputs and maintains employee records within the College HRIS (Banner) throughout the employee life-cycle (from new hire to retirement/termination) and employee data changes throughout.
• Works within multiple overlapping deadlines, processes contracts and staffing action forms, ensuring that the HRIS is updated for all staff hires, transfers, leaves, temporary assignments, additional compensation, retirements, etc. and the necessary information processed efficiently for all stakeholders (i.e., Payroll).
• Reviews contracts for errors/omitted information and takes appropriate steps to resolve by providing guidance to HR colleagues/departments/management in the accurate completion and submission of appropriate employee documents (i.e., Staffing Action Form [SAF]).
• Generates and analyses regular audit reports to ensure accuracy of data, and takes corrective action, providing corrective direction to stakeholders at various levels within the College.
• Tracking and maintenance of exception records for benefits, vacation and other compensation outside of policy (legacy); and generating ad-hoc reports as needed.
• Ensures accurate, appropriate, and timely information is provided to Finance, Payroll, Managers, and Professional Development concerning changes to an employee's set up including compensation, pension and benefits.

Benefit and Pension Administration

• Provides expertise to HR colleagues and management, department managers and employees on all aspects of benefit and pension administration; vacation entitlements, and employee leaves
• Facilitates enrolment and provides information regarding the CAAT Pension Plan to all part time and full-time staff.
• Communicates benefit entitlements and pension plan criteria to eligible employees and assists in the completion of necessary pension plan paperwork.
• Coordinates pension service purchase paperwork for leaves of absence as applicable
• Ensures all pension plan enrolments are completed in pension portal.
• Meet with employees regarding retirement and process required documentation
• Provides information regarding college benefit plans to active employees, retirees and potential candidates
• Inputs, maintains and audits all employee records within the benefits administration systems (Dayforce, CAAT Portal and Sunlife) to mitigate potential risk and liability to the College.
• Processes all new hires, staff transfers, temporary assignments, layoffs, and terminations, ensuring all benefit related documentation is completed, processed and where required submitted in accordance with various plan contracts.
• Provide subject matter expertise to employees and the Disability Management Team relating to benefit elections, HRIS record keeping and vacation payouts surrounding short-term and long-term disability.
• Ensures accurate, appropriate and timely information is forwarded to Payroll concerning changes to an employee's benefits, termination pay-outs, over-payments, and vacation pay owing, etc.
• Communicates vacation payout, life insurance conversion and pension processes to terminating employees
• Responds to benefit inquiries from active employees and retirees.
• Communicates premium changes to employees, retirees and Payroll to ensure appropriate deductions/payments.
• Ensures all enrolment documentation meets legislative, plan and College Employer Council requirements to prevent potential liability for the College
• Liaise with external benefit providers (College Employer Council, Sun Life and CAAT Pension plan) to advocate on behalf of employees and validate application of contract/plan terms and conditions.
• Keeps up to date regarding current developments, plan changes and legislation which may affect areas of responsibility.
• Supports the implementation of new collective agreements as they pertain to benefits, pension and related policies.
• Manages enrolment and termination lifecycle process for all partial load employees. Ensures eligibility between contracts and advises on pension and benefit status. Due to the contractual nature of this group of employees their status with the College changes on a semester-to-semester basis which requires a higher level of complexity in terms of plan administration. Ensures Enrolment forms are completed accurately, and on time.
• Processes Death Claims by notifying Sun Life of death, providing families deceased employee's life insurance, pension, survivor benefits, and ensures required forms are completed by claimant.
• Works closely with the Payroll Services to facilitate accurate benefit deductions.
• Monitors and co-ordinates all college retirements in accordance to college policies and legislation. Processes necessary pension/benefit documents and terminations (i.e. calculations of sick leave gratuity, pension eligibility claim forms, ensuring benefit selection and retirement allowance is processed and complete).

Related Activities

• Coordinates and/or participates in special projects relating to Pension and Benefits and/or HR Department strategic initiatives.
• Keeps up to date regarding current developments, plan changes and legislation which may affect areas of responsibility.
• Works closely with HR colleagues to provide consultation on benefit and pension impacts of employee leaves or special workload arrangements, leaves without pay, layoffs, non-medical modified workloads, maternity/parental leave etc.
• Provides support for various HR system upgrades via testing and validation.
• Ensures training materials and reference guides are kept up to date and made available for others.
• Annual benefit plan review for employees working past age 65 and legacy retirees. Generating necessary reports and communicating changes to coverage.
• Supports People Strategy tasks within the HR Services area
• Composes and distributes benefit/pension communications to the College community.
• Creates and maintains process documentation relating to pension and benefit processes
• Maintain employee informational documents on MyMohawk, aiding with frequently asked questions

Other duties as assigned.

What you'll bring to the role:

• A 3-year Diploma/Degree or equivalent in such disciplines as Business, Communications, Human Resources, Labour Relations or a related field is required at the point of hire into this position.
• A minimum of three years of practical work experience in Human Resources and/or related discipline including benefit and pension administration.
• Advanced computer skills in Microsoft Office suite.
• Familiarity with a computerized Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS).
• Knowledge of group benefit programs and pension administration.
• A strong and comprehensive knowledge of employment legislation and collective agreements
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written) and a high degree of professionalism to deal with highly sensitive and confidential materials and situations.
• Keen attention to detail and a customer service mindset.
• Strong analytical, problem solving, and time management skills.
• Experience as a strong team player; be self-directed with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and the flexibility at peak times to work beyond the normal working hours to meet critical deadlines.
• Experience providing internal clients consultation and direction within a large, multi-union workplace.
• Experience in inputting large amounts of data on a regular basis with few inaccuracies in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience in workload management to effectively plan and execute competing tasks, often with external deadline requirements.
• Analytical skills to address complex issues, research, various reports and audits.
• Demonstrated commitment and understanding of human rights, equity, diversity and inclusion with the ability to communicate and work effectively inter-culturally with diverse groups of students, employees and the community.

What we offer:

• Progressive vacation plan starting with 22 vacation days per year plus holiday closure.
• Opportunity to gain experience and build relationships at a Hamilton/Niagara Top Employer.
• Access to professional development opportunities.
• Option to enroll in Defined Benefit pension plan (CAAT) with contributions matched by Mohawk College.
• Discounted rate for full-service athletic facility and instructor-led classes.
• Opportunities to engage in wellness events and activities.

To find out more about working at Mohawk College, including our Employee Value Proposition, please visit https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/about-mohawk/careers-at-mohawk

We are committed to reconciliation and nurturing an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible (IDEA) environment for everyone who learns and works at Mohawk College. We welcome applications from racialized persons, women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

The College is committed to fostering inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection processes. If you require accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources.

To learn more about Mohawk College's commitments, please visit the Mohawk College strategic plan webpage: https://www.strategicplan.mohawkcollege.ca/